Coens offer Timberlake a role in ‘Inside’

Thesp-singer circling folk-music drama

Just as 20th Century Fox releases his futuristic thriller “In Time,” Justin Timberlake is on the verge of landing his biggest movie role yet: He’s been offered one of the lead roles in the Coen brothers’ folk music pic “Inside Llewyn Davis.”

Story focuses on the folk music scene in Greenwich Village in the 1960s and the title character is loosely based on Dave Van Ronk, a folk singer who was friends with Bob Dylan, among other famous musicians.

The Coens have offered Timberlake the role of Jim, a folk musician married to Jean, who will be played by Carey Mulligan.

Oscar Isaac (“Drive”) stars as the title character, a struggling folk musician born and bred in Queens. Despite being a talented singer and guitarist, he just can’t seem to make ends meet playing music.

Timberlake’s feature career has been on the rise since his supporting perfs in such films as “Alpha Dog,” “Southland Tales” and “Black Snake Moan.” After earning critical acclaim for his turn as Napster founder Sean Parker in “The Social Network,” Timberlake has taken on leading roles in the studio comedies “Bad Teacher” and “Friends With Benefits.” Should he accept the Coens’ offer, not only would Timberlake reunite with his “Social Network” producer Scott Rudin, but he’d have a key role in one of next year’s most prestigious pics.

StudioCanal is set to co-finance the film, which will be made without a domestic distribution partner. Robert Graf (“True Grit”) is exec producing and production is skedded for early next year in Gotham.